Bottle-filling device.



, J. EconPRBY & L. J. HOUSBL'.

BOTTLE FILLING DEVICE.

i APPLICATION FILED 001218, laca.

Patented Dec. 12,1911.

- I. H. GOIIIIIEY L L. I. HoUsEL.

l j BOTTLE FILLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 00118. 1909.

1,011,184, Patented Dec.12,1911. Y 2 sIIBETssIII:T 2.

onirico STATES 'rfgENr ormoni' JOSEPH H. GODFREY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND LESLIE J. HOUSEL,` 0F MADISON,

WISCONSIN. f

BoTrLnHLLING Disvcxe.

' ed certain new and useful Improvements in B0ltle-Filling Devices, of which the following is :L speeificatioxi.

This invention relates to devices for fill-i ing bottles and similar receptacles, and has reference more particularly to that type of filling mechanism wherein a valve controlling `the liow of liquid to the bottle is opened through the agency oan electro-magnet when the empty bottle has been suitably positioned relatively to the filling device to receive the liquid, and is subsequently closed by the automatic deenergizing of the magnet to cut olil the flow of liquid to the bottle when the latter has been filled to the proper height.

'lhe main object of the present invention is to producen. device of the character men tioned ot increased simplicity, efficiency and reliability of operation, and low cost of manufacture and maintenance, as compared with analogous devices at present in use; other objects being to provide a thoroughly sanitary device which may be readily cleaned, and which will automatically operate to insure the complete filling of the bottle 0r other receptacle to the.desired extent.

'lo these ends the invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more par* ticularly pointed out in the claims.`

Our invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical niecleanical form in which the same may 'ne embodied, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a multiple. bottle-filling machine of a known 'an'd common type having our present im-. provenienls applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of the filling valve and its controlling devices. the same being shown in the relative positions occupied by the parts when idle. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional View of the mechanism shown. in` Fig. 2, the parts appearing in the relative Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Deo. 12. 1911.

. Application led October 18, 1909. Seria! No. 523,112.

positions which they assume when an emptyy bottle has been presented in proper position for filling. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, broken off above the valve, and showing the relative positions which the parts assume when the bottle has been filled and is about to he removed; and Figs. -5 and C are crosssectional details on the lines 5--5 and (i-G ot' Fig. 2T respectively.

Our present improvements relate chiefly to the means for controlling the flow of the liquid from an overhead tank or reservoir through a valve-controlled deliveryv spout into the open upper end of a bottle; and these improvements are herein illustrated as applied to a machine for filling milk bottles, although it .will be understood that the kind or character of' the fluid handled by the machine is entirely immaterial tothe invention itself. A l

Referring to Fig. 1` l() designates a tank or reservoir suitably supported on a frame 1l. this latter ,having a vertically slidable platform 1Q adapted to support a crate 13 containing a eliargehof bottles 14, said platform being actuated from a hand lever l5 pivoted at 1t to the rame of the machine and connected to the platform by'links 17 and 1S. ommunieating with and dependingr from the bottom wall l0 of the tank lO'are a series of delivery spouts designated as an entirety h v if). such .spouts corresponding in number and arrangement with the bottles carried by the crate l", all as usual in machines of this class.

Referring now more particularly to those 'features of improvement wherein our present invention resides,and which have to do chiefly with the delivery spout 19'and'the means for controlling the liow of the liquid therethrough, .20 designates a short. tube section having at its upper end a horizontal flange :'20a b v which it is secured to the bottom wall of the tank 10 as by rivets 21, the upper end of said tube section registering with an aperture Q2 formed in the bottom wall of the tank and preferably having a sh0rtvertical ange 20" snugly fitting sind aperture. Removably supported and guided within the tube section 20 by means of an enlarged or flared upper end 23a engaging a correspondingly shaped seat in the tube section 20 is the upper section 23 of a delivery spout, o?

'bv and upon the hollow stem 30 brass or other non-magnetic material, the lower end of which has a screw-threaded connection at 2l with the lower-section E25 ol said spout, the latter being formed with a valve-seat 2G, and, beneath the latter, with a plurality of dowmvardly divergent. ducts leading to and through the lower end of the lower spout section Slidahly mounted within the delivery spout.7 thus formed, a valve-stem constatuting the armature ot an electro magnet, the spool of which is shown at Qi) as surrounding the depending tube section Q and delivery spout 23, 25. rl`he magnet. spool is slidable vertically for a limited distance, and is supported I of an underlying hell llt). this latter in turn being slidably mounted upon the lower section of the delivery spout, and supported on the latter in its lowermost. position by lateral lugs 31 ou the :pout section engaging the upper ends of short vertical grooves 32 in the interior wall of the neck of the bell. To prevent. a turning movement; of the magnet spool around its longitudinal axis, we

may provide the lower head of the spoot with one or more short tongues 33, best shown in Fig. 5, which engage vertical grooves 3st formed in the upper end of the lower section of the delivery spout.

The upper section 2?A of the delivery spout is preferably provided with one or more small external circumferential grooves or channels (Figs. 2 and il) that become filled with liquid that may leak down between the delivery spout and the surrounding tube member ZO and constitute a liquid melting to prevent further leakage of the liquid beyond the lower end of the supporting tube section Q0. 'lt will be observed by reference to the cross-sectional view, Figo, that the armature QS which slidably engages the interior vmll ot the delivery spout is so formed as to permit the ready iow of the liquid thereby. As herein shown it. has the forni in cross-section of a Maltese cross, which provides :imple passages 3G between the arms thereof; but the particular form of the armature is immaterial. so long as it permits the flow of the liquid therethrough or therearound. Fast on the lower end of the armature Q8 is a valve 87 adapted to coperate with the valve-seat- ;lt'i in a manner to control the tlow of the liquid through the delivery ducts QT beneath the valve-seat. As shown, the valve 37 is adapted to close by gravity, but it may, of course, be spring-actuated in its c 4"ng movement., if desired. The armature is preferably provided at its upper end with an upwardly extending stem 3S weich forms a convenient handle for its rcrno-val, wl-.en required for purposes of-cleanllille neck al of the bell 30 is vertically slotted at intervals therearound, these slots being clearly shown at. 39 in Fig. 6, for the purpose of permitting free escape o the air from the bottle as the latter is lled; the lower section of the delivery spout also being externally groovcd or channeled at points opposite the slots 3f), as shown at 40, to further Vfacilitate the free escape of the air therearound. Iivoted at l in one of the slots 3S) is a lever 42, the upper arm of which constitutes a contact. device or switch, while its lower arm extends downwardly into the mouthpiece 30 and supports a Hout;Y

43 disposed substantially centrally of the mouthpiece.

44 (Fig. 1) designates a battery, or other source ot' electrical energy, from one side of which leads a circuit wire the upper end of the winding of the magnet spool, the lower end of said Winding terminating in a depending conta et strip t6 extending below the lower end or the magnet spool and insulated therefrom and adapted to cooperate with the upper contactarm of the float lever 42. The opY posite side of the generator 44 is connected by a circuit wire 47 with a master-switch 18 pivotally mountedon the metallic frame 11 and insulated therefrom by a suitable insulating si rip indicated at 49. f)The masterswitchftS is normally held open by a spring 48 and at one end projects into the path of movement of the platform 12, while its opposite end cooperates with a contact-piece 50 secured to and grounded ou the frame 11. From this it will be seen that., when the Ymaster-switch has been closed by the raising of the bottles to tlllin'g position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, the circuit is 'from one side of the battery through the wire 47, master-switch -l-S. contactl 50, frame 11, tank l0, metallic supporting parts of the magnet spool and mouthpiece (comprising tube section Q0, delivery spout 23, l25, and neck 30 of the mouthpiece), float lever 4Q, contactstrip 46, magnet. winding, and circuit wire 45 back to the opposite pole of the generator; the circuit thus including two switches, 4i: and 48, the opening ofV either'of which opens the circuit; and detnergizes the magnet. f

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood from a consideration of thc various positions of the parts successively represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 1 shows in full lines the relative positions of the parts when the filling mecha.- nism is idle and a crate of empty bottles is about to be introduced thereto, Fig. 2 showing the relative positions of the valve and 'its controlling devices at such time, wherein it will be seen thatI the valve 37 is closed. Asthe lever 15 is operated to raise the platform l2 and carry the bottles into registration with the bells 30, as shown in dotted 45 connected toioo lines in Fig. 1, said table strikes and raises the adjacent end of the master-switch 38,

thus closing the circuit (the contacts '12 and 46 being closed at this time by the gravity of the tloat 43). As the upper end of each bottle engages its eoperating bell 30, 1t

raises the latter a slight distance, at the same time raising the magnet spool; and,t thelatter being in a live condition, the valve, 37 is siunxltaneouslv raised through the attraction of the valve-stein or armature :28, and the liquid at once begins to flow past the open valve through the ducts 27 into the bottle, the position of the parts atthis stage being represented in Fig. 3. As the bottle becomes filled to the desired or required height, as indicated in Fie'. 4, the tioat 43 is raised. thereinT breaking the cir cuit at 42, lo and detnergizi'ng the magnet, whereupon the valve 37 instantlvfalls to closed position, all as shownv in Fig. T he subsequent lowering of the crate of filled bottles permits the several mouthpieces and the magnet spools supported thereby to drop, thus again cosing the contacts 42 and 46, as shown in Fig. 2, but at the same time opening the master-switch 4S, so that no current is wasted during the intervals when the crate of filled bottles is being removed and a crateotempty bottles substituted, or the machine is otherwise idle.- Y

It will be observed that in case frothv or foam forms on top of the liquid in the bot tle in quantity sullicient to raise the tioat and close the valve, upon the subsidence of Vsuch .froth or foam the tioat drops, automatically reclosing the.circuit, energizing the magnehtand opening the valve, and permitting the flow of more liquid into the hot' tle. In this way the complete filling of the bott-le to the desired or required heightA is insured through the automatic operation of the mechanism after the bottle has been cor- -`rectly positioned t'or filling: and this weV re- 45`gard as an important feature and capability of our invention. lt is also to be noted that by making the-delivery spout vieldable in the direction ofits length per- -.fect registration of all the bottles and the filling of all to the same extent is insured, notwithstanding slight variations in the heights of the, bottles which frequently occurs. lf desired. the contact strip 4G may take the torni of a ring o'r collar entirely surroul'iding the lower` end of the spool, in which case the keying of the spool on the. i dvliecrv spout will bc unnecessary.

i' lt-will be noted .that the construction and assembling ot the delivery spoilt, armature, and valve relatively to their supporting parts is sulch that they are readily removabhl i and replaceable through the bottom wall of 5 the. tank without disturbing or dis-assemblingr the supporting and carrying parts, thus making the thorough cleaning and i l i sterilizing of the parts which come in contact with the liquid an easy and simple matter. I l

While wefhave shown'what we believe to be the best and most practical.1nechanical embodiment of our invention, it will be evident to thoseskilled in the art that the spe cilie details of structure and arrangement are capable of variation within the principle of the invention and without sac-rificing an)r of the advantages secured thereb v. Hence.v we do not limit the invention to the exact and specific details and arrangement disclosed, except to the extentl clearly indicated in specific claims."

We claim:

1. ln a bottle-filling device, the combi nation with a`delivery-spont having a valve seat, of a valve, an electro-magnet having its spool surrounding said spout and its armature within said spout and connected to said valve, a circuit including said electro-magnet, a bell mounted on said delivery spoilt. and a float carried by a float-arm movahly mounted on said bell, said Hoat arm constituting a switch to open and close said circuit under the action of the Heat,

substantiall)Y as described. t

Q. In a bottle-tilliog device, .the combination with a delivery-spout having a valveseat, of 'a valve therein, an electromiagnet having its spool surrounding.T `said spout; and its armature within said spoilt at one end directly attached to said valve` a circuit including said electro-magnet; a bell mounted on said delivery-spout, and a oat carried by a. ttoat-arrn movably mounted on said bell, said float-arm constituting a switch to open and close said circuit under the. ac-

tion of the. fioat, substantially as described.

3. ln a. bottle-filling device. tht` combination with a delivery spoilt and a valve there for, of an electro-magnet controlling said valve, a circuit including said electromnig? net, a bell mounted on said delivery spout, and a float carried by a ltoat-arln movabl,y mounted on said bell. said,thmtarm constitiltingr a switch to open and close said circuit under the action of the float, substantially as described.

4. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a deliverv spout and a valve theret'or, ol an electro-magnet controlling said \'alvc.'a circuit includingsaid electroanagnet. a bell mounted on said deliver),v spout, and a float iu said bell carried by the inner end of a float-arm pivotally mounted on said hell, the outer port ion of said float-arm constituting aswilch to open and close said eircuit under the action of the float, substantially. as described.'

5; ln a bottle-filling device. the combina` tion with a sp u|t.-guiile. of a delivery-spout'. vieldably supported 'therein and formed with a valve-seat, a magnet. spool surrounding said spout andleyed thereto, a hell engaging said magnet spool at one end, an

armature slidably mounted. within said 1 tially as described.

7. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a deliver spout, of a valve clontrolling the li'ovv 0 liquid therethrough, a. movable electro-magnet the armature whereof is connected to said valve, a circuit incliiding said electro-magnet, means to move said magnet in a. direction to open said valve upon the introduction of a bottle to llin ,ositiom and means actuated by the liquid in the bottle When'the latter has been'illled for opening said circuitfsubstaiitially as de- 8. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a delivery spout, of a valve ciontrolling the flow ofA liquid therethrough, a movable electro-magnet the armature whereof is connected to said` valve,.'a circuit including said electro-magnet, means actuated by a bottle when moved to filling position for moving said magnet iii a direction to open said valve, and means actuated by the liquid in the bottle when the latter has been filled for opening said circuit, substantially as described.

9. In a bottle-filling device, the combina. tion with a. delivery spout, of a valve controlling the iioiv of liquid therethrough, an electro-magnet having a bodily movable spool and an armature connected to said valve, a circuit including said electro-magnet, means actuated by a bottle when moved to filling position for moving said magnet spool in a* direction to effect the o coing ofsaid valve, and means actuated by the liquid in the bottle when the latter has been filled for opening said circuit, substantially as described.

10. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a delivery spout having a valveseat, of a gravity valve therein, an electro magnet having a verticali movable spool' and an armature connecte to said valve to open the latter when said spool is inv its Vraised position, a circuit including said electrdmagnet, means actuated by a bottle iwhen moved to filling position for 'raising said ma et spool, and means actuated by the liquid in the bottle when the latter has been filled for opening said circuit and per- `initting said valve to drop to closed position, i

substantially as described.

1l. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a vertical delivery spout having a valveseat, of a gravity valve therein, en electro-magnet havin a spool slidably mounted on said delivery spout. and an armature slidably mounted within said delivery spout and connected to said valve, `said armature being so ormed as to permit' the flow of liquid thereby, a circuit ineluding ,said eleetro-magnet, means actuated byk a bottle when moved to 'filling position for raising said ma net spool, and means actuated bv the liquid in the bottle when the latter has been filled for opening said circuit, substantially as described.

.l 1.2. In a vbottle-filling device, the combinaL t tion with a vertical delivery spout having a. valveseat, of a gravity valve therein, an

clectroimagnet having a spool slidably mounted on said delivery spout and an armature slidably 'mounted Within said de-A liveryspout and 'connected to said valve, said armature being so orined to permit the fior: of liquid t ierehy, a circuit including said electro-magnet, a, bell slidably mounted on said delivery spout beneath and 'supporting said magnet spool and adapted e raised by a bottle when. moved to iilliug osition, and means actuated by the liquid 'in the bottle when the latter has been filled for' opening said circuit, substantially as described.

13. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with a delivery spout, of a. valve controlling the flow of liquid therethrough, an electro-magnet the armature whereof is connected to and adapted to open said valve, a circuit. including said electro-magnet, a

switch included in said 'circuit, and a float adapted to enter the neck of a bottle and operating to open said switch and dunergize said magnet when the liquid has reached a predetermined height, in 'the bottle, substantial y as described.

14. In a bottle-filling device, the combination with 'a delivery spout having a valveseat` of a valve therein conirollingihe llow of liquid therethrough, an electrouuaguet having a spool surrounding said delivery spout and an armature slidahly mounted within said valve spout and connected to said valve, a circuit including said electromagnet, a switch included in said circuit, and a iloat adapted to enter the neck of a. bottle and operating said switch when the liquid has reached a predetermined height in the. bottle in a manner to etfect the closure of said valve, suhstautiallv as described.

15. In a bottle-filling evice, the combination with a. vertical delivery spout having a. valveseat, of a gravity valve therein, au electro-magnet having a. spool slidably 'supporting said magnet spool and adaptedv mountedk on said delivery spout and an armature slidably mounted within-said d elivery spout and carrying ,Said valve, said armature being so formed as to permit the tion' of the liquid thereby, a bell slidably mounted on Said delivery spout beneath and to be raised by a bottle when moved to titling position, a circuit including said magnet Spool and bell, normally closed Contact. cieviccs carriedl by said magnetspool and heil, respectively, and a float adapted to enter the neck of a bottle and operating to-separate l@aid Contact devices and thereby deenergizevsa'id magnet when the liquid has reached a predetermined height in the bottle, snl'istantially as described.

1G. ln a bottle-filling machinef the combination 'with a tank and a vabe-controlled liquid-delivering mechanism communicating therewith, ofvan electric circuit and an et-r tro-magnet therein for actuating the valve of said liquid-delivering mechaniem, means for eli'eetingregistration bet'vveen said liquid delivering mechanism and a bottle toire filled thereby, and a master-switch in said circuit actuated by said meana fer eltecting registration, subtantially as described.

17. l'n a bottle-filling machine, the comizinatien with a tank and a valve-controlled liquid-deliverinsdr mechanism communicating therewitl1,of an electric circuit and an electro-magnet therein for actuating the valveV ofisaid liquid-deliveringl mechanism. means for moving,- a bottle into regiater v 'ith said liquid-delivering mechanism, and a. master-switch in said circuit actuated by said bottle-moving means, substantially described.

18. In a bottle-filling machine, the coinbination. with a tank and a delivery spout. depending therefrom and formed with a valve-seat, of a gravity valve in laaid spout, an electro-magnctthaving a spool slidably mounted on said spout and an arinatnre slidably mounted within said spout and carrying said valve, said armature being so formed as to permr the flow of the liquid thereby, a bell slidably mounted on said delivery spout beneath and supporting said magnet spool and4 adapted to be raised by a bottle when moved to tilling position, means orraising a bottle into registration with said bell, a circuit including said magnet spoel and bell, normally closed contact devices carried by. said magnet spool and bell, respectively, a normally open master-switch included insaitl circuit adapted to be closed by said bottle-raising means the bottle is carried into rcgist 'ation with Said bell, and 7 a floatv adapted to enter the necl: of the bot tle and operating to separate said contact devices and thereby denergizmg said magnet v`when the liquid has reached a predetermined heightin the bottle, substantially as described. v

JOSE-PH H. GODFREY. LESLlE J. HOUSEL. "'itnessee` for Godfrey:

f l". L. BELKNAP,

E. lV. KILCRAN. lVitnesses for Hensel: J. H. PALMER, E. D. KUEY. 

